Grab a cheese grater and dig into distressed denim

www.shopbop.comTrue Religion, Paige Denim and 7 For All Mankind are among the 12 designers featuring distressed denim on one of my favorite online shopping destinations, shopbop.com.

I remember when I was younger and first wanted a pair of distressed jeans from Abercrombie and Fitch. My mom's reaction was typical: You are going to pay how much for jeans with holes in them?

Needless to say, I never got that pair of jeans, and all of my denim these days remains stress-free. I've let down the hem or cut off a pair or two to try to make up for it, but going for the scissors was clearly a beginner's mistake.

Even if I did gather the necessary materials (block of wood, cheese grater, sandpaper?) to take the plunge into designing my own, unique denim... is it really worth it? To me, distressed denim should come with a story, usually involving long hours of wear and tear as opposed to a few minutes playing with sharp objects. You shouldn't try to fake it.

Just a spoonful of fraying here in my denim drawer.

Nevertheless, the trend remains a hot one. With the right top and shoes, distressed jeans can show off your chic, carefree style. If you are 100% put-together, made-up and accessorized at all times, it may not be a good look for you. Flowy tops, bright colors and other fancy shirts won't mesh with distressed denim. Instead, grab a comfortable vintage crew neck or a cute peasant top.

One of the best places to find designer jeans is department stores, but the real gems are the "outlet" versions of the stores you know and love. To keep your denim around 100 bucks, try Off 5th (Saks), Last Call Neiman Marcus or Nordstrom Rack. To take advantage of these discount dens, hop on the Pennsylvania Turnpike or Interstate 83 to nearby Philadelphia or Balitmore.

For casual Fridays at the office or a night out on Second Street, I'm still partial to dark denim. It's a fresh, polished look.

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